Kazakh world number 72
Zarina Diyas
continued her dream Wimbledon debut by beating Russian veteran Vera Zvonareva 7-6 (7-1) 3-6 6-3 and will next face Halep.

But the game between last year's beaten finalist
Sabine Lisicki
and former world number one
Ana Ivanovic
was suspended because of bad light at 1-1 in the second set after Lisicki won the first 6-4.

French Open champion Sharapova told BBC Sport: "I made a slow start but I felt better as the match went on."

Davenport on Sharapova

"I think for this Wimbledon Maria has come in very relaxed. She is happy after winning the French Open and has settled in nicely here. When she gets the one-two combination going either from serve or return it is very hard to stop her."

Riske broke the Sharapova serve in the opening game of the match, which was played under the closed Centre Court roof because of rain.

The American held her serve twice to take a 3-1 lead but, watched by a host of sporting stars, including David Beckham, Sir Bradley Wiggins and Winter Olympic gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold, Sharapova sent down a succession of winners to win the next 11 games.

The Russian is into the last 16 for the ninth time in 12 appearances.

"Alison is a great grass-court player and I knew it would be a challenge," Sharapova added.

"I am happy to be in the second week after missing out last year."

Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova led Madison Keys of the United States 7-6 (9-7) 6-6 when bad light forced the suspension of their match.

Actor Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon Cooper in TV show The Big Bang Theory, is a Eugenie Bouchard fan

Bouchard (right) will face Alize Cornet, who beat Serena Williams, in the last 16

Spectators at SW19 were forced to brave the wet conditions as rain delayed play for much of the day

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